Dead rats were thrown by a fan at the Brondby stadium during a derby match between FC Copenhagen and Brondby on Sunday. Four rodents were thrown at the away side’s players – Benjamin Verbic and Ludwig Augustinsson – during the closing stages of the game, reported ESPN.
The match finished with Copenhagen taking full points through a narrow 1-0 win. The winning goal was scored by Verbic. Brondby issued an apology through a statement: “We are obviously annoyed that we had to leave the field without points, but it is equally unfortunate that there are some fans at today’s match who could not work out how to behave properly.
“We will now look all the video material and pictures and engage in dialogue with supporters in the hope that together we can identify the right person and make sure he or she is banned from the stadium.”
Sweden international Augustinsson, who felt the full wrath of the dead rats on his back stated that he was in shock, but was asked to continue playing by the referee. “I just heard something land behind my back, then I turned around and saw it was rats. I was a bit in shock.
“It was 100% the strangest thing I’ve had thrown at me. You’ve had beer and coins thrown at you a few times, but this was the first time animals were thrown. It was really disgusting.”
Players are regularly subjected to verbal abuse from opposition fans near the touchline, but seldom has the game drawn to a grinding halt because of it.
Back in 2000, the Barcelona-Real Madrid El Clasico match had to be suspended after irate fans at the Camp Nou directed a severed pig’s head at Portugal legend Luis Figo, who made a controversial switch to the Santiago Bernabeu from Camp Nou.